Combine automatic header height control

ABSTRACT

An automatic header control for a harvester platform that conveys the sensed ground contour to the valve without distortion and can be adjusted for various heights without introducing distortions. A bar that is oscillated by the ground sensing fingers has a chain that warps and unwraps around the bar. The chain is connected through a flexible cable to a control arm that engages the control valve stem. The control valve is pivotally adjustable about the arm axis to thus provide height adjustment without distortion.

United States Patent Gardner 1 Dec. 5, 1972 [54] COMBINE AUTOMATICHEADER HEIGHT CONTROL [72] Inventor: Frank H. Gardner, Colona, Ill.

[73] Assignee: lnternatioanl Harvester Company,

Chicago, Ill.

22] Filed: oc.4,1971

211 Appl.No.: 186,133

[52 use] ..56/l0.2,56/208 [51] Int.Cl. ..A01d45/l8 58 Field otSearch..56/10.2, 10.4, 208,DIG.15

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sallee ..56/208 X 3,402,5409/1968 Karlsson et al. ..56/208 Primary Examiner-Louis G. ManceneAssistant Examiner.l. N. Eskovitz Attorney-Floyd B. Harman [5 7]ABSTRACT An automatic header control for a harvester platform thatconveys the sensed ground contour to the valve without distortion andcan be adjusted for various heights without introducing distortions. Abar that is oscillated by the ground sensing fingers has a chain thatwarps and unwraps around the bar. The chain is connected through aflexible cable to a control arm that engages the control valve stem. Thecontrol valve is pivotally adjustable about the arm axis to thus provideheight adjustment without distortion.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnEc 5 I972 3.704.574

INVENTOR FRANK H. GARDNER ZWJM PATENTEDuEc 51912 3.704.574

sum 2 or 2 INVEN TOR FRAN K H. GARDNER COMBINE AUTOMATIC HEADER HEIGHTCONTROL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates generally to agricultural machines and moreparticularly to a device for maintaining the crop treating portion of anagricultural machine at a predetermined height above the ground.

2. Description of the Prior Art In some agricultural machines, it isimportant that the header closely follow the contour of the ground andwith the increase in size of todays machines and the speed at which theytraverse the ground, it has become necessary to provide power means toautomatically raise and lower the header. A device for doing this isshown in the patent to Wright US. Pat. No. 2,750,727.

One of the problems in the available automatic header controls is thatthere is a distortion in the transmitting means between theground-engaging fingers and the control valve. In the prior art devicessuch as that disclosed in the above-referred'to Wright patent, theground-engaging fingers are pivoted at one end and oscillate about thispivot in response to changes in the ground contour. A lever arm projectsradially from the pivot axis of the ground-engaging finger and means areconnected between the end of this lever arm and the control valve. Inthis system, one component of the rotary motion is transmitted from thesensing finger to the control valve. This can be adjusted so that it ismost accurate in the center of the range, but looses accuracy as itmoves towards either end of the range. In the-prior art devices, anotherdistortion is introduced in attempting to adjust the height at which theheader will operate. In the prior art devices'this is accomplished bylengthening or shortening the means connecting the control valve to theground-engaging finger lever arm. This rotates the neutral position forthe lever that'engages the control valve and thus changes its anglerelative to the control valve so that the magnitude of the component ofmovement transmitted has been changed.

SUMMARY In an effort to overcome the above mentioned prior art problems,the present invention contemplates wrapping a flexible member around acylinder concentric with the pivot axis of the sensing finger so thatthe flexible member is wrapped and'unwrapp ed in response to oscillationof the sensing finger. In this arrangement we sense not just a componentof the movement, but the entire movement and thus, there is nodistortion at the outer limits of the sensing range. In the experimentalwork it was found that repititous wrapping and unwrapping of a flexiblewire eventually result in failure of the wire due to fatigue. Thus, inthe present invention, a link chain has been used to overcome thisdifficulty. In an effort to eliminate the distortion incident toadjusting the height at which the automatic header control will operate,the present invention contemplates pivotally mounting the control valveabout the same axis at which the control arm that engages the controlvalve stem is mounted. The position of the control valve is controlledthrough a screw device convenient to the operator of his platform.Through this arrangement, upon re-adjusting for a different height,

the ground and transmit this information without distortion to thecontrol valve that functions to raise and lower the header.

Another object of the present invention is to permit adjustment forvarious heights without introducing distortions in the informationtransmitted from the ground sensing fingers to the control valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view ofan agricultural machine such as a combine incorporating the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sketch of three components of the presentinvention that are connected by flexible cables; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the control valve taken along lines 3-3 ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring nowto the drawingswherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views there is shown in FIG. 1 an agriculturalmachine designated comprising a wheeled vehicle such as a combine 11 anda pivotally mounted platform or header 20. The combine 11 includes drivewheels 12, steerable wheels 13 and an operator's platform 14. Theplatform or header is connected to the combine 11 at a pivot mounting21. A

- hydraulic cylinder means is connected to the combine by a pivotmounting 31 and to the platform by a pivot mounting 32. The hydrauliccylinder means 30 communicates with hydraulic control valve 46 through aconduit 33. Upon expansion or contraction of the hydraulic cylindermeans 30, the platform or header 20 is raised or lowered respectivelyabout the pivot mounting 21. The control valve 46 can be of a standarddesign. Reference can be made to the patent to Sallee US. Pat. No.3,088,264 for a disclosure of a valve that could be used for thispurpose. The control valve 46 is connected to the combine hydraulicsystem and by actuating a manual control lever, the operator can causethe hydraulic cylinder means 30 to expand or contract to thus raise orlower the header 20. The manual control for raising and lowering theheader is standard and is not part of the subject invention. Referencemay be had to the above-referred to Sallee patent for a disclosure ofthis standard feature.

The subject invention concerns a means for automatically raising andlowering the header 20 in response to changes in the contour of theterrain. A control means designated 40 is provided to sense the changesin contour of the terrain, transmit this information without distortionto the hydraulic control valve 46 which controls fluid flow to and fromthe hydraulic cylinder means 30 which functions to raise and lower theheader.

A base mounting plate 41 is secured to the side wall of the combine asseen in FIG. 1. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the base plate 41 has aflange 42 protruding therefrom. The base plate 41 also includes asupport assembly 43 that supports one end of a pivot rod 44, the otherend of which is supported by the base plate. As shown in broken lines inFIG. 3, a spacer tube 45 is carried by the pivot rod 44 and a valveplate 49 and control arm 50 are pivotally supported on the spacer tube45. The hydraulic control valve 46 is secured to the valve plate 49 andis free to pivot with the valve plate 49. As best seen in FIG. 2 aspring 48 is connected at one end to the lower edge of valve plate 49and is fixed at its other end to the combine side wall. Spring 48 biasesthe valve plate in'a counterclockwise direction about the spacer tube 49as seen in FIG. 2.

At the leading edge of the platform or header 20 there is a transverselyextending sickle 22 below which is mounted the sensing means 60. Thesensing means 60 includes a transversely extending rockshaft 61 having aplurality of ground-engaging feelers or fingers 62 secured thereto andextending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom.'The ground-engagingfeeler 62 ride on the ground and oscillate the transversely extendingrockshaft 61 in response to changes in the terrain. The cam member 63having an outer cylindrical engaging surface 64 and a radial protrudingmounting arm 65 is secured to the transversely extending rockshaft 61and oscillates therewith.

A first flexible control cable designated 70 extends between themounting arm 65 and the pivoted control arm 50. (See FIG. 2) Thefirst'end 75 of outer cable 74 is secured by nuts 77 to amounting plate76 that is fixed to the underside of the platform or header 20. Thesecond end 78 of outer cable 74 is'secured by nuts 79 to the flange 42of the base mounting plate 41. The first flexible control cable 70includes an inner cable 71 which extends through the outer cable 74 andis movable relative thereto. A link chain 80 is secured at one end 81 tothe mounting arm 65 of the cam member 63. The intermediate portion 82 ofthe link chain engages the cylindrical engaging surface 64 of the cammember 63. The other end 83 of link chain 80 is connected to the firstend 72 of the inner cable 71. Theother. end 73 of the inner cable 71 isconnected to the control arm 50.

A height control means 90 is provided so that the operator can selectand adjust the spacing between the terrain and the platform 20 that theautomatic platform control will seek to maintain. The height controlmeans 90 includes a second flexible control cable 91 made up of a secondouter tubular cable 95 and a second inner cable 92. The first end 96 ofthe second outer tubular cable 95 is secured to a mounting bracket 98 bynuts 99 on the combine operators platform 14. The second end 97 of thesecond outertubular cable 95 is-secured by nuts 101 to the flange 42 ofthe base mounting plate 41. The first end 93 of the second inner cable92 includes a threaded male section 102. A knob 103 is pivotallysupported by the mounting bracket 98 and includes a threaded femalesection 104 that matches the male threaded section 102. The operatorcan, by turning knob 103, cause axial movement of the second inner cable92. The second end 94 of the second inner cable 92 is connected to thevalve plate 49. When the operator turns knob 103, he can thus pivotvalue plate 49 about the spacer tube 45. It should be noted that spring48 biases the valve plate 49 in a counter clockwise direction as seen inFIG. 2 and that to pivot the valve plate 49 in a clockwise direction,the tension in spring 48 must be overcome by the second flexible controlcable 91.

It should be noted that by mounting the valve plate 49 and control arm50 about the same pivot axis, the relationship between the control arm50 and the reciprocating metering stem 47 of the hydraulic control valve46 is not disturbed by adjustment in the height control means 90. Forexample, when the reciprocating metering stem 47 is fully extended andthe control arm 50 is engaging the-free end of reciprocating meteringstem 47, an increment of movement of the first flexible control cablewill have the same effect on the hydraulic control valve 46 regardlessof the adjustment of the height control means 90. This is one ofapplicants improvements over the prior art devices and is thusconsidered an important aspect of the subject invention.

OPERATION In operation, the control for the hydraulic cylinder means 30is moved to the automatic header control position. As the combineproceeds down the field, the ground-engaging feelers 62 are in contactwith the terrain and in response to elevations and depressions in theterrain, they cause an oscillation of the transversely extendingrockshaft 61. As the rockshaft 61 oscillates, the link chain wraps andunwraps about the cylindrical engaging surface 64 of the cam member 63.Wrapping and unwrapping of link chain 80 about the cam member 63 causesan axial movement of the first inner cable 71 and thus a pivotablemovement of the control arm 50 about spacer tube 45. The free end ofcontrol arm 50engages the end of reciprocating metering stem 47 andpivotable movement of the control arm 50 causes reciprocal movement ofthe metering stem 47. As the reciprocating metering stem 47 movesrelative to the hydraulic control valve 46, the flow of hydraulic fluidthrough the fluid conduit 33 to and from the hydraulic cylinder means 30is affected in such a way that the platform or header 20 is raised inresponse to an increase in elevation of the terrain and is lowered inresponse to the depression in the terrain. Thus, through the automaticheader control, the platform or header 20 is maintained at a selectedheight over the terrain. If it is desired to change the selected spacingbetween the platform or header 20 and the terrain, then the operatormerely turns the knob 103 which causes the hydraulic control valve 46 topivot about the spacer tube 45 and this will change the height above theterrain that the platform will seek. For example, if the hydrauliccontrol valve 46 is pivoted in the clockwise direction, as seen in FIG.2, through manipulation of the knob 103, it will cause the platform orheader 20 to seek a lower level then it had previously sought. Likewiseif the hydraulic control valve 46 is pivoted about the spacer tube 45 inthe counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 through manipulation ofthe knob 103, it will cause the platform or header 20 to seek a higherelevation over the terrain than it had previously sought.

What is claimed is:

I. In an agricultural machine including a wheeled vehicle and apivotally mounted platform,

hydraulic cylindermeans connected between said wheeled vehicle and saidplatform for raising and lowering the latter relative to the ground,

control means connected to said hydraulic cylinder means for maintainingsaid harvester platform at a selective relationship relative to theground comprising:

a hydraulic control valve connected to said hydraulic cylinder, saidcontrol valve having a reciprocating metering stem,

a transversely extending rockshaft carried by said harvester platform, aground-engaging feeler secured to said rockshaft,

a member having a cylindrical. engaging surface secured to saidrockshaft, r

a mounting arm protruding from said cylindrical engaging surface,

a flexible control cable including an inner cable slidable within anouter tubular cable, said outer tubular cable fixed at a first end tosaid harvester platform adjacent said cylindrical engaging surface,

a link chain connected at one end to said mounting arm and at its otherend to a first end of said inner cable, the intermediate portion of saidlink chain engaging said cylindrical engaging surface such that whensaid rockshaft is oscillated the link chain wraps and unwraps upon saidcylindrical engaging surface causing movement of the inner cablerelative to the outer tubular cable,

the other end of said inner cable being associated with said meteringstem and operative to cause reciprocation of the metering stem relativeto the control valve.

2 The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said metering stemis slid into said control valve the hydraulic cylinder is expanded andthe platform is raised and when slid out the hydraulic cylindercontracts and the platform is lowered,

said control valve being pivotally mounted on said wheeled vehicle,height control means accessible to the operator for repositioning saidcontrol valve about its pivot mounting,

a lever pivotally mounted at one end to said wheeled vehicle about thepivot mounting of said control valve, the free end of said lever beingin contact with said metering stem, said other end of the inner cableconnected to said lever.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2, wherein said control valve isspring biased in a first direction about its pivot mounting and saidheight control means includes a second flexible control cable having asecond inner cable slidable within a second outer tubular cable,

a first end of said second outer tubular cable fixed to said wheeledvehicle adjacent said control valve,

a first end of said second inner cable connected to said control valve,

the second end of said second inner control cable located such that itis accessible to the operator,

operator actuated means for sliding said second inner cable relative tosaid second outer cable to thereby pivot said control valve about saidpivot mounting in op osition to the force of said sprin 4. Anagricultura machine including a wheeled ve cle and a pivotally mountedplatform,

hydraulic cylinder means connected between said wheeled vehicle and saidplatform for raising and lowering the latter relative to the ground,

sensing means carried by said platform for sensing the ground below theplatform,

control means connected to said hydraulic cylinder means for maintainingsaid harvester platform at a selective relationship relative to theground comprising:

a hydraulic control valve pivotally mounted on said wheeled vehicle andoperatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder, said control valvehaving a reciprocating metering stem that when slid into the controlvalve causes the hydraulic cylinder to expand and the platform to raiseand when slid out causes contraction of the hydraulic cylinder andlowering of the platform,

a first flexible control cable including an inner cable slidable withinan outer tubular cable, said outer tubular cable fixed at a first end tosaid harvester platform adjacent said sensing means, a first end of saidinner cable connected to said sensing means,

a lever pivotally mounted at one end to said wheeled vehicle about thepivot mounting of said control valve, the free end of said lever beingin contact with said metering stem,

the other end of said first inner cable connected to said lever wherebythe response of said sensing means is transmitted to said control valveand said platform is raised or lowered accordingly,

height control means accessible to the operator for repositioning thecontrol valve relative to the wheeled vehicle about its pivot mountingto thus change the selective relationship between the platform and theground.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 4, wherein said height controlmeans includes,

a second flexible control cable having a second inner cable slidablewithin a second outer tubular cable,

a first end of said outer tubular cable fixed to said wheeled vehicleadjacent said control valve,

a first end of said second inner cable connected to said control valve,

the second end of said second inner cable located such that it isaccessible to the operator, operator actuated means for sliding saidsecond inner relative to said second outer cable the thereby pivot saidcontrol valve about its pivot mounting.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein said control valve isspring biased to rotate about is pivot mounting in opposition to thepulling of said height control means.

1. In an agricultural machine including a wheeled vehicle and apivotally mounted platform, hydraulic cylinder means connected betweensaid wheeled vehicle and said platform for raising and lowering thelatter relative to the ground, control means connected to said hydrauliccylinder means for maintaining said harvester platform at a selectiverelationship relative to the ground comprising: a hydraulic controlvalve connected to said hydraulic cylinder, said control valve having areciprocating metering stem, a transversely extending rockshaft carriedby said harvester platform, a ground-engaging feeler secured to saidrockshaft, a member having a cylindrical engaging surface secured tosaid rockshaft, a mounting arm protruding from said cylindrical engagingsurface, a flexible control cable including an inner cable slidablewithin an outer tubular cable, said outer tubular cable fixed at a firstend to said harvester platform adjacent said cylindrical engagingsurface, a link chain connected at one end to said mounting arm and atits other end to a first end of said inner cable, the intermediateportion of said link chain engaging said cylindrical engaging surfacesuch that when said rockshaft is oscillated the link chain wraps andunwraps upon said cylindrical engaging surface causing movement of theinner cable relative to the outer tubular cable, the other end of saidinner cable being associated with said metering stem and operative tocause reciprocation of the metering stem relative to the control valve.2. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein when said meteringstem is slid into said control valve the hydraulic cylinder is expandedand the platform is raised and when slid out the hydraulic cylindercontracts and the platform is lowered, said control valve beingpivotally mounted on said wheeled vehicle, height control meansaccessible to the operator for repositioniNg said control valve aboutits pivot mounting, a lever pivotally mounted at one end to said wheeledvehicle about the pivot mounting of said control valve, the free end ofsaid lever being in contact with said metering stem, said other end ofthe inner cable connected to said lever.
 3. The invention as set forthin claim 2, wherein said control valve is spring biased in a firstdirection about its pivot mounting and said height control meansincludes a second flexible control cable having a second inner cableslidable within a second outer tubular cable, a first end of said secondouter tubular cable fixed to said wheeled vehicle adjacent said controlvalve, a first end of said second inner cable connected to said controlvalve, the second end of said second inner control cable located suchthat it is accessible to the operator, operator actuated means forsliding said second inner cable relative to said second outer cable tothereby pivot said control valve about said pivot mounting in oppositionto the force of said spring.
 4. An agricultural machine including awheeled vehicle and a pivotally mounted platform, hydraulic cylindermeans connected between said wheeled vehicle and said platform forraising and lowering the latter relative to the ground, sensing meanscarried by said platform for sensing the ground below the platform,control means connected to said hydraulic cylinder means for maintainingsaid harvester platform at a selective relationship relative to theground comprising: a hydraulic control valve pivotally mounted on saidwheeled vehicle and operatively connected to said hydraulic cylinder,said control valve having a reciprocating metering stem that when slidinto the control valve causes the hydraulic cylinder to expand and theplatform to raise and when slid out causes contraction of the hydrauliccylinder and lowering of the platform, a first flexible control cableincluding an inner cable slidable within an outer tubular cable, saidouter tubular cable fixed at a first end to said harvester platformadjacent said sensing means, a first end of said inner cable connectedto said sensing means, a lever pivotally mounted at one end to saidwheeled vehicle about the pivot mounting of said control valve, the freeend of said lever being in contact with said metering stem, the otherend of said first inner cable connected to said lever whereby theresponse of said sensing means is transmitted to said control valve andsaid platform is raised or lowered accordingly, height control meansaccessible to the operator for repositioning the control valve relativeto the wheeled vehicle about its pivot mounting to thus change theselective relationship between the platform and the ground.
 5. Theinvention as set forth in claim 4, wherein said height control meansincludes, a second flexible control cable having a second inner cableslidable within a second outer tubular cable, a first end of said outertubular cable fixed to said wheeled vehicle adjacent said control valve,a first end of said second inner cable connected to said control valve,the second end of said second inner cable located such that it isaccessible to the operator, operator actuated means for sliding saidsecond inner relative to said second outer cable the thereby pivot saidcontrol valve about its pivot mounting.
 6. The invention as set forth inclaim 5, wherein said control valve is spring biased to rotate about ispivot mounting in opposition to the pulling of said height controlmeans.